If You Build It, Will They Come? Getting Medical Professionals to Use the Bridge of Evidence for Improved Recognition of Physical Child Abuse

Organisational barriers and facilitators to the implementation of best practices within paediatric forensic radiographic practice - A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Implementation and application of evidence-based practice through legislation, international and national guidelines and local protocols is integral to the successful undertaking of forensic radiographic practice, because of its medico-legal role. This research aims to evaluate those organisational barriers and facilitators to its effective implementation.

METHODS

This scoping review was undertaken according to the JBI updated guidelines using the PCC mnemonic. A systematic search of 10 databases was undertaken to identify literature addressing the research question relating to this aspect of forensic radiography practice. Handsearching and snowballing were also included to enhance this search strategy. The search focussed on forensic imaging of paediatrics, the living and deceased.

RESULTS

Of the 301 papers initially selected, 9 articles were identified as eligible for inclusion, encompassing an international perspective. Through Inductive Content Analysis, 5 conceptual categories were developed: ineffective organisational governance, education translation, system brakes, default practice, and value-based judgement.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that there are many complex and multifactorial organisational issues impacting upon effective implementation of best practices within paediatric forensic imaging. There is a need to address these issues, before attempting strategies for future implementation. It is essential to recognise that there can be no one-size-fits approach, but rather tailored strategies are required recognising individual needs within the multi-disciplinary scope of forensic radiographic practice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Failure to recognise and address the identified issues impacting upon effective implementation, may have significant implications on the processes and individuals involved in the forensic imaging acquisition pathway. Successful addressing of these issues may enable the professionals involved in organisational governance to create a more conducive and receptive environment for best-practice implementation.

The impact of a child abuse guideline on differences between pediatric and community emergency departments in the evaluation of injuries

BACKGROUND

Although child physical abuse is missed more frequently in community (CEDs) vs. pediatric emergency departments (PEDs), little information exists describing how evaluations of high-risk injuries differ between these settings.

OBJECTIVES

To determine differences in evaluations of infants for abuse between a PED and CEDs and whether a child abuse guideline reduced these differences.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Infants presenting to one PED (n = 162) and three CEDs (n = 159) with 3 injury categories: 1) Injuries for which the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends skeletal survey (SS) testing (infants <5-months with an oral injury or bruising, <9-months with a non-skull fracture, and < 12-months with an intracranial hemorrhage); 2) an oral injury or high-risk bruising in older infants; and 3) multiple types of high-risk injuries.

METHODS

We assessed differences in SS testing and child protective services (CPS) reporting between the PED and CEDs before and after implementation of a child abuse guideline.

RESULTS

The median (IQR) age was 4 months (2-7). Before guideline implementation, infants with injuries in categories 1 and 2 had an increased odds of SS testing in the PED vs. the CEDs (Category 1: aOR 2.83, 95% CI: 1.01-8.10; Category 2: aOR 10.1, CI: 1.2-88.0) and CPS reporting (Category 1: aOR 7.96, CI: 2.3-26.7; Category 2: aOR 12.0, CI: 1.4-103.5). After guideline implementation, there were no statistically significant differences in testing and reporting for any injury category.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a child abuse guideline minimized differences between a PED and CEDs in the evaluation of infants with injuries concerning for abuse.

Child Protection Team Consultation for Injuries Potentially Due to Child Abuse in Community Emergency Departments

OBJECTIVES

Emergency care for children is provided predominantly in community emergency departments (CEDs), where abusive injuries frequently go unrecognized. Increasing access to regional child abuse experts may improve detection of abuse in CEDs. In three CEDs, we intervened to increase involvement of a regional hospital child protection team (CPT) for injuries associated with abuse in children < 12 months old. We aimed to increase CPT consultations about these infants from the 3% baseline to an average of 50% over 12 months.

METHODS

We interviewed CED providers to identify barriers and facilitators to recognizing and reporting abuse. Providers described difficulties differentiating abusive from nonabusive injuries and felt that a second opinion would help. Using a plan-do-study-act approach, beginning in April 2018, we tested, refined, and implemented interventions to increase the frequency of CPT consultation, including leadership and champion engagement, provider training, clinical pathway implementation, and an audit and feedback process. Data were collected for 15 months before and 17 months after initiation of interventions. We used a statistical process control chart to track CPT consultations about children < 1 year old with high-risk injuries, use of skeletal surveys (SSs), and reports to child protective services (CPS).

RESULTS

Evidence of special cause was identified beginning in June 2018, with a shift of 8 points to one side of the center line. For the subsequent 8-month period, the CPT was consulted for a mean of 47.5% of children with high-risk injuries; this was sustained for an additional 7 months. The average percentage of infants with high-risk injuries who received a SS increased from 6.7% to 18.9% and who were reported to CPS increased from 10.7% to 32.6%.

CONCLUSION

Targeted interventions in CEDs increased the frequency of CPT consultation, SS use, and reports to CPS for infants with high-risk injuries. Such interventions may improve recognition of physical abuse.